DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Mem·ber, n.
 1. Anat. A part of an animal capable of performing a distinct office; an organ; a limb.
    We have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office.   --Rom. xii. 4.
 2. Hence: A part of a whole; an independent constituent of a body; as: (a) A part of a discourse or of a period or sentence; a clause; a part of a verse. (b) Math. Either of the two parts of an algebraic equation, connected by the sign of equality. (c) Engin. Any essential part, as a post, tie rod, strut, etc., of a framed structure, as a bridge truss. (d) Arch. Any part of a building, whether constructional, as a pier, column, lintel, or the like, or decorative, as a molding, or group of moldings. (e) One of the persons composing a society, community, or the like; an individual forming part of an association; as, a member of the society of Friends. (f) Math. one of the elements which, taken together, comprise a set. (g) Math. one of the individual objects which comprise a group or class.
 Compression member, Tension member Engin., a member, as a rod, brace, etc., which is subjected to compression or tension, respectively.
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 Ten·sion n.
 1. The act of stretching or straining; the state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; the state of being bent strained; as, the tension of the muscles, tension of the larynx.
 2. Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of feeling; intense effort.
 3. The degree of stretching to which a wire, cord, piece of timber, or the like, is strained by drawing it in the direction of its length; strain.
 4. Mech. The force by which a part is pulled when forming part of any system in equilibrium or in motion; as, the tension of a srting supporting a weight equals that weight.
 5. A device for checking the delivery of the thread in a sewing machine, so as to give the stitch the required degree of tightness.
 6. Physics Expansive force; the force with which the particles of a body, as a gas, tend to recede from each other and occupy a larger space; elastic force; elasticity; as, the tension of vapor; the tension of air.
 7. Elec. The quality in consequence of which an electric charge tends to discharge itself, as into the air by a spark, or to pass from a body of greater to one of less electrical potential. It varies as the quantity of electricity upon a given area.
 Tension brace, or Tension member Engin., a brace or member designed to resist tension, or subjected to tension, in a structure.
 Tension rod Engin., an iron rod used as a tension member to strengthen timber or metal framework, roofs, or the like.
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